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{{short description|American supermarket chain}}
{{short description|American supermarket chain}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2022}}
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{{Infobox company
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
⚫
{{Infobox company
| name = Foodtown
| name = Foodtown
| logo = Foodtown (United States) logo.svg
| logo = Foodtown (United States) logo.svg
| type = [[Supermarket]] [[Retailers' cooperative|cooperative]]
| type = [[Supermarket]] [[Retailers' cooperative|cooperative]]
| foundation = 1955
| foundation = 1955
| location = [[Iselin, New Jersey]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| location = [[Iselin, New Jersey]], United States
| locations = 66
| locations = 66
| products = Bakery, dairy, deli, frozen foods, grocery, meat, pharmacy, produce, seafood, snacks, liquor
| products = Bakery, dairy, deli, frozen foods, grocery, meat, pharmacy, produce, seafood, snacks, liquor
| parent = Allegiance Retail Services
| parent = [[Allegiance Retail Services]]
| homepage = [http://www.foodtown.com/ Foodtown.com]
| homepage = [http://www.foodtown.com/ Foodtown.com]|
|}}
}}
'''Foodtown''' is a [[Northeastern United States|northeastern]] [[United States]] [[supermarket]] [[retailers cooperative|cooperative]] founded in 1955 by Twin County Grocers in [[New Jersey]]. Currently, there are 66 Foodtown stores in [[New Jersey]], [[New York State|New York]], [[Connecticut]], and eastern [[Pennsylvania]]. Foodtown's corporate offices are located in [[Iselin, New Jersey]].
'''Foodtown''' is a [[Northeastern United States|northeastern]] [[United States]] [[supermarket]] [[retailers cooperative|cooperative]] founded in 1955 by Twin County Grocers in [[New Jersey]]. Currently, there are 66 Foodtown stores in New Jersey, [[New York State|New York]], and [[Connecticut]]. Foodtown's corporate offices are located in [[Iselin, New Jersey]].


Much like other retailers cooperatives, such as [[ShopRite (United States)|ShopRite]], each Foodtown is independently owned and operated, with some owners operating multiple stores. Foodtown's parent company, Allegiance Retail Services, also supplies Foodtown-branded items and acts as a supplier for other independent grocers that do not operate under the Foodtown banner.
Much like other retailers cooperatives, such as [[ShopRite (United States)|ShopRite]], each Foodtown is independently owned and operated, with some owners operating multiple stores. Foodtown's parent company, Allegiance Retail Services, also supplies Foodtown-branded items and acts as a supplier for other independent grocers that do not operate under the Foodtown banner.


==History==
==History==
In the 1980s and 1990s, Foodtown was a major grocer on [[Long Island]] and in New Jersey. In 1994, Foodtown's parent company, Twin County Grocers, was headed by Martin Vitale and was supplying 165 Foodtown stores, resulting in a wholesale revenue of over $1 billion. Mayfair Supermarkets and Melmarkets operated 45 of those stores, and combined were the cooperative's two largest owners.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Foodtown was a major grocer on [[Long Island]] and in [[New Jersey]]. In 1994, Foodtown's parent company, Twin County Grocers, was headed by Martin Vitale and was supplying 165 Foodtown stores, resulting in a wholesale revenue of over $1 billion. Mayfair Supermarkets and Melmarkets operated 45 of those stores, and combined were the cooperative's two largest owners.


In the mid-1990s, two major incidents nearly resulted in the demise of the Foodtown cooperative. The first incident came in 1995, when the Dutch retailer [[Ahold]] purchased all forty-five of the Foodtown stores operated by Melmarkets and Mayfair Supermarkets. Shortly following the purchase, those stores were converted to Ahold's [[Stop & Shop|Edwards Super Food Stores]] banner. As these stores made up nearly half of Twin County Grocers' volume, the cooperative took a severe financial hit. The second incident came when, in the chaos resulting from the Ahold purchase, a scandal was uncovered where members of Twin County's corporate hierarchy were found to have been embezzling money from the cooperative.
In the mid-1990s, two major incidents nearly resulted in the demise of the Foodtown cooperative. The first incident came in 1995, when the Dutch retailer [[Ahold]] purchased all forty-five of the Foodtown stores operated by Melmarkets and Mayfair Supermarkets. Shortly following the purchase, those stores were converted to Ahold's [[Stop & Shop|Edwards Super Food Stores]] banner. As these stores made up nearly half of Twin County Grocers' volume, the cooperative took a severe financial hit. The second incident came when, in the chaos resulting from the Ahold purchase, a scandal was uncovered where members of Twin County's corporate hierarchy were found to have been embezzling money from the cooperative.
Line 22: Line 24:
In 1998, the lost volume from the Ahold acquisition and damage from the embezzlement scandal forced Foodtown's parent, Twin County Grocers, into bankruptcy. Following these events, many Foodtown stores converted to other banners or simply closed.
In 1998, the lost volume from the Ahold acquisition and damage from the embezzlement scandal forced Foodtown's parent, Twin County Grocers, into bankruptcy. Following these events, many Foodtown stores converted to other banners or simply closed.


The Twin County CEO, Martin Vitale, eventually pleaded guilty to stealing $4.2 million from the cooperative, as well as bribing a leader in the [[United Food and Commercial Workers]] union in New Jersey.<ref name="Grocery Supplier Guilty in Payoffs">{{cite web | title=Grocery Supplier Guilty in Payoffs | website=The New York Times | date=2003-09-27 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/27/business/grocery-supplier-guilty-in-payoffs.html | access-date=2019-02-04}}</ref> In 2004, Foodtown closed its supply warehouse.
The Twin County CEO, Martin Vitale, eventually pleaded guilty to stealing $4.2 million from the cooperative, as well as bribing a leader in the [[United Food and Commercial Workers]] union in New Jersey.<ref name="Grocery Supplier Guilty in Payoffs">{{cite web | title=Grocery Supplier Guilty in Payoffs | website=The New York Times | date=September 27, 2003 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/27/business/grocery-supplier-guilty-in-payoffs.html | access-date=February 4, 2019}}</ref> In 2004, Foodtown closed its supply warehouse.


In 2006, a Foodtown franchisee purchased several [[Winn-Dixie]] locations in [[Miami metropolitan area|south-east Florida]] from a bankruptcy auction.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Springer |first1=Jon |title=Foodtown Heading To Florida |url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/archive/foodtown-heading-florida |access-date=7 January 2020 |work=Supermarket News |publisher=[[Informa]] |date=5 June 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Owers |first1=Paul |title=Foodtown buys ex-Winn-Dixies |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2006-07-10-0607070462-story.html |access-date=7 January 2020 |work=[[Sun-Sentinel]] |publisher=[[Tribune Publishing]] |date=10 July 2006}}</ref> Of those, two locations ([[West Palm Beach, Florida|West Palm Beach]] and [[Davie, Florida|Davie]]) were branded as Foodtown, although they do not appear on the Foodtown website.
In 2006, a Foodtown franchisee purchased several [[Winn-Dixie]] locations in [[Miami metropolitan area|south-east Florida]] from a bankruptcy auction.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Springer |first1=Jon |title=Foodtown Heading To Florida |url=https://www.supermarketnews.com/archive/foodtown-heading-florida |access-date=January 7, 2020 |journal=Supermarket News |publisher=[[Informa]] |date=June 5, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Owers |first1=Paul |title=Foodtown buys ex-Winn-Dixies |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2006-07-10-0607070462-story.html |access-date=January 7, 2020 |work=[[Sun-Sentinel]] |publisher=[[Tribune Publishing]] |date=July 10, 2006}}</ref> Of those, two locations ([[West Palm Beach, Florida|West Palm Beach]] and [[Davie, Florida|Davie]]) were branded as Foodtown, although they do not appear on the Foodtown website.


In 2012, various independent grocer cooperatives came together to form Allegiance Retail Services, with the Foodtown cooperative being the largest founding member. Allegiance is responsible for advertising, marketing programs, technological services, and negotiating with suppliers on behalf of its members. It is also responsible for producing various products under the Foodtown brand name, which are provided to all of the different members in the cooperative.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.retail-merchandiser.com/reports/retail-supplier/2849-allegiance-retail-services|title=Allegiance Retail Services - Retail Merchandiser|work=Retail Merchandiser|access-date=2017-08-10|language=en-gb}}</ref>
In 2012, various independent grocer cooperatives came together to form Allegiance Retail Services, with the Foodtown cooperative being the largest founding member. Allegiance is responsible for advertising, marketing programs, technological services, and negotiating with suppliers on behalf of its members. It is also responsible for producing various products under the Foodtown brand name, which are provided to all of the different members in the cooperative.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.retail-merchandiser.com/reports/retail-supplier/2849-allegiance-retail-services|title=Allegiance Retail Services - Retail Merchandiser|work=Retail Merchandiser|access-date=August 10, 2017|language=en-gb|archive-date=August 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810053122/http://www.retail-merchandiser.com/reports/retail-supplier/2849-allegiance-retail-services|url-status=dead}}</ref>


On February 10, 2016, it was announced that Allegiance Retail Services had purchased the intellectual property of former [[The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company|A&P]] division [[Pathmark]] through a bankruptcy auction. The sale included the Pathmark logo, trademarks, brand names, pathmark.com domain, and all other intellectual property associated with the Pathmark name. Since then, Allegiance has reopened the Pathmark chain with a single location in Brooklyn, New York.
On February 10, 2016, it was announced that Allegiance Retail Services had purchased the intellectual property of former [[The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company|A&P]] division [[Pathmark]] through a bankruptcy auction. The sale included the Pathmark logo, trademarks, brand names, pathmark.com domain, and all other intellectual property associated with the Pathmark name. Since then, Allegiance has reopened the Pathmark chain with a single location in Brooklyn, New York.


On October 16, 2018, the Foodtown location in [[Denville Township, New Jersey|Denville, New Jersey]], closed its doors. The owners of the store, the Dickerson family, had operated a market at that location since 1883 and had been members of the Foodtown cooperative for over fifty years. <ref>{{Cite web|last=NJ.com|first=Mark Di Ionno {{!}} NJ Advance Media for|date=2018-10-17|title='It's like a death in the family' as 125-year-old N.J. grocery store closes|url=https://www.nj.com/news/2018/10/its_like_a_death_in_the_family_as_a_125-year-old_b_1.html|access-date=2020-09-25|website=nj|language=en}}</ref>
On October 16, 2018, the Foodtown location in [[Denville Township, New Jersey|Denville, New Jersey]], closed its doors. The owners of the store, the Dickerson family, had operated a market at that location since 1883 and had been members of the Foodtown cooperative for over fifty years. <ref>{{Cite web|last=NJ.com|first=Mark Di Ionno {{!}} NJ Advance Media for|date=October 17, 2018|title='It's like a death in the family' as 125-year-old N.J. grocery store closes|url=https://www.nj.com/news/2018/10/its_like_a_death_in_the_family_as_a_125-year-old_b_1.html|access-date=September 25, 2020|website=nj|language=en}}</ref>

==Former Foodtown Locations==
Additional NJ:

Cedar Knolls - Michas Brothers - stand-alone , then mall anchor in former Stop and Shop

Whippany - in former A&P
<br />{{hidden begin|header=Former Foodtown Locations|ta2=left|ta1=left|bg1=#CCCCFF}}

New Jersey
*[[Belleville, New Jersey]]: Originally [[Grand Union (stores)|Grand Union]], later became A&P and then [[Food Basics USA|Food Basics]] and Fine Fare. Now vacant.
*[[Brick, New Jersey]]: Closed. Property currently owned by the township.
*[[Clark, New Jersey]]: Originally Foodtown. Became A&P, now vacant.
*[[Clifton, New Jersey]]: Became Drug Fair, now Dollar General.
*[[Denville, New Jersey]]: Became Dollar Tree.
* [[East Brunswick, New Jersey]]: Now a Shoppers World.
* [[East Hanover, New Jersey]]: Now CVS.
*[[Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey]]: Became [[Circuit City]] in 1993, closed in 2004, reopened in 2006 as K&G Mens Superstore, now Spirit Halloween.
*[[Garfield, New Jersey]]: Originally weathervane-style [[A&P]], store closed after A&P, which still owned the property and had returned to Garfield after taking over an old [[Pathmark]], refused to renew the store's lease; store and adjacent strip demolished and taken over by Garfield Board of Education, school occupies site.
*[[Haledon, New Jersey]]: Now Super Supermarket.
*[[Hazlet, New Jersey]]: Located next to [[Bradlees]], both Bradlee's and Foodtown closed and are currently vacant.
*[[Kearny, New Jersey]]: Now [[Modell's]].
*[[Colonia, New Jersey]]: Located next to Bradlees, both Bradlee's and Foodtown closed and were converted into [[The Home Depot]].
*[[Lakewood, New Jersey]]: Later converted to Edwards/Stop & Shop; now vacant.
*[[Long Branch, New Jersey]]: Now Stop & Shop
*[[Lyndhurst, New Jersey]]: Later converted to Edwards/Stop & Shop; was redeveloped as a high-rise housing complex.
*[[Manville, New Jersey]]: Now Vacant
*[[Marlboro, New Jersey]]: Later Stop & Shop, Now [[NetCost]].
*[[Matawan, New Jersey]]: Now [[C-Town]].
*[[Mendham Borough, New Jersey|Mendham, New Jersey]]: Now [[Kings Super Markets|King's]].
*[[Metuchen, New Jersey]]: Redevelopment proposed, store currently vacant.
*[[Midland Park, New Jersey]]: Now [[Kings Super Markets|King's]].
*[[Oakland, New Jersey]]: Was Grand Union, then Foodtown, the Jules Market. Now split in half with a Staples and Zeytinia.
*[[Passaic, New Jersey]]: There were two former Foodtowns in Passaic. One, located on Main Avenue, originally became Pioneer Supermarket, then El Unico market; space now occupied by [[laundromat]] and [[Rite Aid]]. The other, located on Van Houten Avenue at Broadway, is now a Salvation Army Thrift Store.
*[[Paterson, New Jersey]]: Now [[Rite Aid]].
*[[Roselle, New Jersey]]: Became Seabra Foods; now [[Super Fresh]].
*[[Saddle Brook, New Jersey]]: Became [[Office Depot]]; now [[24 Hour Fitness]].
Sea Bright N.J. Closed and became Andy K’s.
*[[Secaucus, New Jersey]]: Later Edwards then [[Stop & Shop]]. Store closed and demolished as part of redevelopment of The Mills Creek Mall.
*[[Smithville, Atlantic County, New Jersey|Smithville, New Jersey]]: Later became Incollingo's, now vacant
*[[Somerset, New Jersey]]: Became Edwards, was later torn down and replaced with a [[Stop & Shop]] in same shopping center.
*[[South Amboy, New Jersey]]: became a Key Food, before being an empty lot due to a fire in 2015.
*[[Wall Township, New Jersey]]*: vacant, currently scheduled to be redeveloped for ShopRite.
*[[Township of Washington, New Jersey]]: became A&P, has since reopened as a Foodtown.
*[[Union City, New Jersey]]: 2 locations, both became [[CVS Pharmacy|CVS]]
*[[Wanamassa, New Jersey]]: Closed following opening of [[Wegmans]]; now Spirits Unlimited.
*[[Wayne, New Jersey]]: Store located on Valley Road; became [[Treasure Island (store)|Treasure Island]]; store divided after Treasure Island moved to Route 23 and is now occupied by Walgreens. (Foodtown has returned to Wayne with a location on Route 23, a former Michaels location, originally Pantry Pride.)
*[[Wharton, New Jersey]]: Store location currently split between Rite Aid and a farmers market. Was located in strip mall on North Main Street near Route 15 North ramp.
*[[Woodbridge, New Jersey]] : located next to Bradlee's, now a Walmart

New York
*[[Dover Plains, New York]] : Became CVS.
*[[East Rockaway, New York]] : Became CVS.
*[[Freeport, New York]] : Became Edwards, then Stop & Shop, now a Target.
*[[Hartsdale, New York]]: 371 N Central Ave - An original ShopRite turned Pathmark Now a HMart Chinese supermarket.
*[[Massapequa, New York]] : Became Edwards, now King Kullen
*[[Lake Grove, New York]]: Became Stop & Shop, [[Hallmark Cards]], and [[Lenscrafters]], now vacant
*[[Port Jefferson Station, New York]]: Became Edwards, then Stop & Shop, now closed, current site of Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace
*[[Glen Cove, New York]]: Became [[Finast]], then Edwards, then Stop & Shop, now [[Walgreens]] and other shops

{{hidden end}}


==References==
==References==
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{{Supermarkets of the United States}}
{{Supermarkets of the United States}}


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[[Category:Retailers' cooperatives in the United States]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1955]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1955]]
[[Category:Business services companies established in 1955]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1955]]
[[Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1998]]
[[Category:Companies based in Middlesex County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Companies based in Middlesex County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Economy of the Northeastern United States]]
[[Category:Economy of the Northeastern United States]]
[[Category:Supermarkets of the United States]]
[[Category:Supermarkets of the United States]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1955]]
⚫
[[Category:Retailers' cooperatives in the United States]]
[[Category:1955 establishments in New Jersey]]
[[Category:1955 establishments in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Cooperatives based in New Jersey]]

Latest revision as of 20:24, 20 April 2024

Foodtown
Company typeSupermarket cooperative
Founded1955
HeadquartersIselin, New Jersey, United States
Number of locations
66
ProductsBakery, dairy, deli, frozen foods, grocery, meat, pharmacy, produce, seafood, snacks, liquor
ParentAllegiance Retail Services
WebsiteFoodtown.com

Foodtown is a northeastern United States supermarket cooperative founded in 1955 by Twin County Grocers in New Jersey. Currently, there are 66 Foodtown stores in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. Foodtown's corporate offices are located in Iselin, New Jersey.

Much like other retailers cooperatives, such as ShopRite, each Foodtown is independently owned and operated, with some owners operating multiple stores. Foodtown's parent company, Allegiance Retail Services, also supplies Foodtown-branded items and acts as a supplier for other independent grocers that do not operate under the Foodtown banner.

History

[edit]

In the 1980s and 1990s, Foodtown was a major grocer on Long Island and in New Jersey. In 1994, Foodtown's parent company, Twin County Grocers, was headed by Martin Vitale and was supplying 165 Foodtown stores, resulting in a wholesale revenue of over $1 billion. Mayfair Supermarkets and Melmarkets operated 45 of those stores, and combined were the cooperative's two largest owners.

In the mid-1990s, two major incidents nearly resulted in the demise of the Foodtown cooperative. The first incident came in 1995, when the Dutch retailer Ahold purchased all forty-five of the Foodtown stores operated by Melmarkets and Mayfair Supermarkets. Shortly following the purchase, those stores were converted to Ahold's Edwards Super Food Stores banner. As these stores made up nearly half of Twin County Grocers' volume, the cooperative took a severe financial hit. The second incident came when, in the chaos resulting from the Ahold purchase, a scandal was uncovered where members of Twin County's corporate hierarchy were found to have been embezzling money from the cooperative.

In 1998, the lost volume from the Ahold acquisition and damage from the embezzlement scandal forced Foodtown's parent, Twin County Grocers, into bankruptcy. Following these events, many Foodtown stores converted to other banners or simply closed.

The Twin County CEO, Martin Vitale, eventually pleaded guilty to stealing $4.2 million from the cooperative, as well as bribing a leader in the United Food and Commercial Workers union in New Jersey.[1] In 2004, Foodtown closed its supply warehouse.

In 2006, a Foodtown franchisee purchased several Winn-Dixie locations in south-east Florida from a bankruptcy auction.[2][3] Of those, two locations (West Palm Beach and Davie) were branded as Foodtown, although they do not appear on the Foodtown website.

In 2012, various independent grocer cooperatives came together to form Allegiance Retail Services, with the Foodtown cooperative being the largest founding member. Allegiance is responsible for advertising, marketing programs, technological services, and negotiating with suppliers on behalf of its members. It is also responsible for producing various products under the Foodtown brand name, which are provided to all of the different members in the cooperative.[4]

On February 10, 2016, it was announced that Allegiance Retail Services had purchased the intellectual property of former A&P division Pathmark through a bankruptcy auction. The sale included the Pathmark logo, trademarks, brand names, pathmark.com domain, and all other intellectual property associated with the Pathmark name. Since then, Allegiance has reopened the Pathmark chain with a single location in Brooklyn, New York.

On October 16, 2018, the Foodtown location in Denville, New Jersey, closed its doors. The owners of the store, the Dickerson family, had operated a market at that location since 1883 and had been members of the Foodtown cooperative for over fifty years. [5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Grocery Supplier Guilty in Payoffs". The New York Times. September 27, 2003. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  2. ^ Springer, Jon (June 5, 2006). "Foodtown Heading To Florida". Supermarket News. Informa. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  3. ^ Owers, Paul (July 10, 2006). "Foodtown buys ex-Winn-Dixies". Sun-Sentinel. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  4. ^ "Allegiance Retail Services - Retail Merchandiser". Retail Merchandiser. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  5. ^ NJ.com, Mark Di Ionno | NJ Advance Media for (October 17, 2018). "'It's like a death in the family' as 125-year-old N.J. grocery store closes". nj. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
[edit]
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